To commemorate their first release in like 10 years, MNSKA band 3 Minute Hero have put together a video for their song “Happy.”  The song is featured on their upcoming limited release F Minus: The Uncollected Works.  Trumpet player Bryce Blilie created the video with scenes from the movie Annie.  It’s hilarious and fun, just like the band.

Be sure to catch them at their release show this Friday, October 28th at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis with special guests The Dropsteppers!

You can watch the video on YouTube HERE

MNSKA veterans 3 Minute Hero are throwing a party to celebrate their first musical release in over 10 years, F-Minus: Uncollected Works.  The show will be on Friday, October 28th at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis.  Doors are at 8pm and fellow MNSKA band The Dropsteppers will be opening.  To get you geared up for the new music, we posting an exclusive track from the new album:

“Happy” by 3 Minute Hero from F-Minus: Uncollected Works

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Here’s what the band had to say about their upcoming show and release:

“3 Minute Hero – isn’t that the band that…” Yes, yes, yes: public urination – but that is all in the past, like so many other things. First, let us dispose of the third person introductions. The 3 Minute Hero Show is back after a stint in our creative chrysalis and ready to emerge like the tantalizingly lurid butterfly that we are. We could tell you about our throbbing rhythm section, our undeniably handsome horn section, and our non-stop frontal assault on the banality of live music, but that tells you nothing. Come closer. Smell that? It’s electricity, and sweat, and liquor, and laughter, and possibly hair product. It’s the smell of you at our next show – and you smell great.

3 Minute Hero will be debuting their completely unexpected and unnecessary musical response to 9/11, the new album “F Minus: Uncollected Works.” Each album is numbered and features original, uninspired lino-cut art on the cover,  as well as containing a one-of-a-kind band photograph (which may or may not contain the band and will undoubtedly be out of focus &/or irrelevant). In addition to this, there will be a shiny disc with music on it – terrible music – from a touching ballad of pant-wetting  to a butchered Duke Ellington cover to a chalupa-induced hallucination. This promises to be the least earnest, most bullshitty,  fleeting,  uneven, and incomprehensible album of 2011. It’s also awesome as hell. You’re welcome.

The month of  October is a gigantic one for MNSKA.  Just look at the show calendar below…it’s crazy!  Let me highlight some of the shows that you, the MNSKA faithful, should be at.  This Sunday, the infamous crusty ska-punk heroes Leftover Crack will be playing at the Triple Rock Social Club with MNSKA band Rocksteady Breakfast.  A couple days later at the First Ave Mainroom is legendary Ziggy Marley.  Arizona surf/ska/punk band Authority Zero is bringing it to the 7th Street Entry on Sunday October 16th.  Looking ahead to that weekend, check out Thursday October 20th where the mighty Aggrolites are bringing their dirty reggae to the 7th Street Entry!  The next night is an all-out MNSKA Double Release Party at the Nomad World Pub.  On Friday, October 21st you can dance to the boss tunes from MNSKA’s The Dropsteppers, who are releasing Get Up In It! on Megalith Records, and The Prizefighters, who are releasing their special-edition vinyl of Follow My Sound on Jump Up Records.  The show opens up with the epic return of long-running two-tone massive known as Umbrella Bed!  But the month is not over yet, because the superhuman ska force known as 3 Minute Hero is playing a release show at the Fine Line Music Cafe on Friday, October 28th.  The band is only releasing a limited number of their new music collection, so you should make it your bee’s wax to be at that one!

Whew!  Tons of ska shows to attend.  Which shows will we see you at?  Be sure to continue to check our SHOWS page for updates.

Fall 2011 is looking to be a solid season for MNSKA!  There are going to be a whole truckload of new releases from bands in the MNSKA community.  Let me give you a run down of what you can look forward to:

Rocksteady Breakfast will be releasing their new CD on Saturday, September 3rd at The Rat Hole in South Minneapolis.  The band has spent the past year and a half working on this album.  It is a must-have for fans of raw energetic underground punk-ska!  Details for the release show can be found HERE

The Prizefighters have been busy this past year putting together a special-edition vinyl LP of their recent release Follow My Sound via Jump Up Records.  Along with songs from the album, side B of the vinyl will include new unreleased songs, instrumental versions, and even a dub from Anthony Abbinanti (The Drastics).  The band will be releasing the album at special double release show with MNSKA band The Dropsteppers on Friday, October 21st at The Nomad World Pub in Minneapolis.  The Dropsteppers spent the early part of 2011 in the studio to create their debut full-length CD Get Up In It via Megalith Records.

Veteran third-wave ska band 3 Minute Hero recently announced their triumphant return to the Twin Cities music scene.  To commemorate being back in the saddle, they are hard at work on a new release that should be out this Fall.  Stay tuned to MNSKA.com for more details!

Long-time Twin Cities reggae band Dred I Dread will be releasing their much anticipated follow-up to 2009′s Tribulation sometime in early 2012.  The band previewed some of their new songs at the recent Jamaican Independence Day party at The Red Sea.

Holy exclusives, Batman!  On this episode of the Flyover Ska Show, Courtney sits down with Jay Kalk from the unstoppable ska force 3 Minute Hero to exclusively announce the detailed future of the once defunct band.  Jay takes us on a journey through his vast musical career, discussing life as a constantly touring musician, travelling the world, and why he has made his return to Minnesota, the state the birthed him.  Along the way, the guys discuss the appeal of female fronted bands, why Minnesotans should be proud of Prince, and what it’s like to introduce ska music to the Chinese.

The fine folks at Copycats Media have a deal for you, the loyal listener.  Mention the Flyover Ska Show and they’ll add 100 FREE 11X17 full color posters to your order.

The Flyover Ska Show is now available on Stitcher, the free podcast radio app for all your better smartphones. Stream more than just the latest Midwestern Ska.

This show is brought to you in part by MNSKA.com, Minnesota’s Ska Community and the Fancy Pants Gangsters podcast network.  Become a fan of the show on Facebook, follow Courtney on Twitter, or email him at FOSS@fancypantsgangsters.com.

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You can download this episode HERE or subscribe to the show on iTunes.

3 Minute Hero, Minnesota’s powerful horn-driven ska band that burst onto the national scene back in 1995 is BACK!  The band hung up their suits and packed away their horns back in November 2000, but played 2 brief weekend reunion shows in 2007 and 2009.  Now, over 10 years after they called it quits, the band has returned for good.  The band toured the country in the late nineties supporting their albums Bingo, Everyday Ninjas, and Operation Brown Star.  Be on the lookout for more shows in the Twin Cities this Fall.

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS local female-fronted third wave ska-punk band Blue Waffle

Friday, June 17, 2011

3 Minute Hero
with special guests
Blue Waffle

Bunker’s Music Bar and Grill
761 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis, MN
Doors 9pm | 21+ | $6

Ska night in Uptown Minneapolis this Wednesday!  Cause Spirits and Soundbar are hosting a 21+ showcase of MNSKA bands!  Doors at 9pm and it’s only $5!

Blue Waffle are a recently formed female-fronted third wave ska band.  Although they are new to the MNSKA roster, they are veterans in the music community and have proven that it is still possible to have fun at a ska show! Made up entirely of music teachers from the School Of Rock, this band brings the goods in their upbeat set, which may include a peppering of 2-Tone covers along with their original dance tunes.

Secondhand Ska Kings are longtime veterans in the Minnesota music scene.  Their members played in a lot of the popular local ska bands in the 90′s (3 Minute Hero, Suspect Bill, Ten Cent Fun) and have boiled those experiences down into a fantastic party-styled live show.  Come and raise a glass with the ‘Kings.  If the drinks don’t take the edge off, the scorching horn section will.

The Dropsteppers are the fast-rising stars of the world of reggae and ska.  Influenced by the Northern soul artists of Motown and the Jamaican sounds of early reggae and ska artists like The Upsetters, The Dropsteppers bring an authentic and unique sound, honed in their Nordeast Minneapolis rehearsal space.  The band will be releasing a 7″ split with Royal City Riot on Megalith Records this summer!

You can RSVP the event on Facebook HERE

Since the weather has been so nice, this week’s episode is entirely outdoors.  Courtney journeys to the South Minneapolis backyard patio of Eric Johnson, a ska-musician turned music teacher.  Eric has been in several ska bands in the Twin Cities including 3 Minute Hero, Panel Of Experts, and the Secondhand Ska Kings.  This extended episode has the guys talking about the brand new SHSK album Cocktails Before Funerals, why Middle School was a nightmarish hellscape, and how everyone’s secret desire is to be a rockstar who gets paid.  Get out the lawn chairs, crack open a cold one, and enjoy!

This show is brought to you in part by MNSKA.com, Minnesota’s Ska Community and the Fancy Pants Gangsters podcast network.  Become a fan of the show on Facebook, follow Courtney on Twitter, or email him at FOSS@fancypantsgangsters.com.

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You can download this episode HERE or subscribe to the show on iTunes.

Minnesota’s rudest DJ’s Reverend Evan and Citizen D bring you a Labor Day Weekend edition of Rude Radio this week.  The dynamic duo welcome the students back to the University of Minnesota with ska, dub, reggae, and rocksteady music from yesterday and today.  This week’s Roots Rock Roadtrip brings us across the pond to London, UK where on September 27th Madness will be playing at Regent Street.  There was even a local song set featuring bands with numbers (Siren Six, 2 Tone Runts, 3 Minute Hero) as well as announcing the upcoming local shows on the Skancert Skalendar brought to you by MNSka.com.

Rude Radio is broadcast every Sunday on Radio K (KUOM 770AM Mpls-St. Paul).  You can stream this week’s episode HERE.  This week’s playlist can be found after the jump.

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MNSka veterans 3 Minute Hero recently did a series of reunion shows, including one at the Fine Line in Minneapolis, MN.  This video shows the guys performing their eclectic hit “Ice Cream.”  Wicked bari sax line in there!